Citi Foundation partners with PBSP for community response program
Citi Foundation is contributing a total of P7.5 million to the COVID-19 Community Response Program of the Philippine Business for Social Progress, Inc. (PBSP), the largest corporate-led nonprofit organization in the country. This partnership aims to provide immediate relief to Filipinos who are most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Citi Foundation’s contribution to PBSP’s program will help provide survival packs to 7,200 households or approximately 36,000 individuals. Each survival pack contains at least five kilograms of rice, fresh vegetables, fish, dressed chicken, and canned halal grocery items that can support a family of five for five days.
Non-government organizations Samahan ng Nagkakaisang Pamilya ng Pantawid (SNPP) and Caritas Manila, Inc. were tapped to identify the beneficiaries of the COVID-19 Community Response Program. Likhaan Center for Women’s Health, Inc., a non-profit engaged in helping women in marginalized communities, is also helpingto set up quarantine centers to further boost the program.
Standard Chartered Bank among firms leading in the pandemic response
Standard Chartered Bank (SCB) has been cited by Leathwaite for leading in the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Leathwaite is an executive search and human capital specialist firm based in London and with offices in New York, Zurich and Hong Kong.
It cited nine companies that stepped up and “walked-the-walk” and SCB was highlighted for its $50 million global charitable fund to support victims of the pandemic.
From the $50 million fund,the bank used the $25million for immediate relief efforts in the most impacted communities including a $10 million donation to Red Cross and UNICEF, and $15million allocated to local NGO partners across its markets.
The remaining $25million will be used to support long-term recovery efforts through employment and educational opportunities.
In the Philippines, the bank gave $250,000 or P12.5 million for immediate relief efforts in the country.
In partnership with the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), the funds provided 10,000 family food packs to vulnerable communities in NCR and Region IV-A, more than 11,000 sets of reusable protective personal equipment (PPE) to 40 hospitals and treatment centers in the country, and financial assistance to the bank’s non-employed workers.
LG helps Las Piñas’ frontliners keep it cool
Global technology innovator LG Electronics, the South Korean electronics conglomerate, has played an active role in rising to the challenge posed by the global pandemic. On the local front, LG has been providing much needed assistance to the frontliners in various LGUs combatting the virus.
Recognizing the need for safe, straightforward, and comfortable testing booths for the frontliners, LG Philippines collaborated with Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers -Las Piñas-Muntinlupa (PSME-LPM) Chapter, in order to provide two sample collection booths to the Las Piñas Health Office.
The summer heat, combined with the frontliners’ full body PPEs, can cause thermal stress especially since they have to stand for almost 8 hours inside the sampling booth.
To help with this, LG outfitted the booths with window-type air-conditioners, which operate at sound levels as low as 44dB, eliminating unnecessary noise for smooth operation, as well as an anti-bacterial filter to trap harmful particles and bacteria.
LG Managing Director Inkwun Heo stresses the important of comfort for the frontliners.
“Our brave health workers are risking their lives on a daily basis. We at LG are committed to give our all in giving them relief and comfort while in the line of duty. It’s the least we can do for their heroic deeds,” Heo said.
ACCIONA donates more than 30,000 face masks to DOTr
ACCIONA, a global leader in providing sustainable solutions for infrastructure and renewable energy projects, recently donated a total of 30,000 surgical face masks to the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to demonstrate its support for the government and the health care workers in the fight to contain this pandemic.
DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade, together with Undersecretary for Railways Timothy John Batan, Assistant Secretary for Procurement and Project Implementation Giovanni Lopez, PCG Commandant Admiral Joel Garcia, and PPA General Manager Jay Santiago, warmly received the Spanish delegation led by Ambassador to the Philippines His Excellency Jorge Moragas along with Spanish Commercial Counsellor Pedro Pascual, Spanish Chamber of Commerce’s President Peter Hager, and Executive Director Barbara Apraiz.
During the ceremony, Sec. Tugade thanked ACCIONA for its contribution to protecting the population against COVID-19 and emphasized the important relationship he maintains with the Embassy of Spain saying “The relationship between Spain and the Philippines will only become firmer, stronger, and more mutually beneficial.”
Ambassador Moragas highlighted the strong commitment of Spain and its companies to the development of the Philippines, especially in the case of ACCIONA, which works closely with the country’s authorities to carry out important projects that benefit millions of Filipinos. “We intend to keep working on your Build, Build, Build initiatives.”
Among ACCIONA’s other initiatives in the country are a drinking water treatment plant in Muntinlupa, Putatan and the Cebu-Córdoba bridge project.
Taipan CEO leads in the boardroom and at frontlines
For Joeben Tai, founder and president of Grand Taipan Land Development, Inc., the pandemic hasn’t stopped him from helping communities that are in need.
From the boardroom to the frontlines, Tai has organized relief drives and personally distributed relief goods to communities across Metro Manila.
He also distributed medical supplies and food packs for the urban poor families all over Metro Manila and the rural poor in the provinces all over the country.
Tai has also extended PPEs to police and military frontliners.
Tai, a member of the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) volunteered to be on the frontline for the Filipino-Chinese community relief operations.
The Filipino Chinese community’s major organizations have formed the Filipino Chinese Community Calamity Fund (FCCCF), raising P270 million in donations in order to undertake charities and civic projects to support medical, police and military frontliners as well as help marginalized people whose livelihoods have been disrupted.
BATA donates 1 million pairs of shoes globally in fight vs COVID-19
Bata, a global leading shoe company has committed to donate 1 million pairs of shoes to health care workers, volunteers, and their families, the front-liners fighting the Covid-19 in a number of countries where it operates, in Europe, Latin America, Africa, Asia-Pacific, and India. Bata Philippines will be donating 1,800 pairs of shoes to front liners through SM Foundation.
“During these unprecedented times, Bata is committed to doing everything possible to ensure the health and safety of our employees and consumers, to continue to serve our consumers to the best of our ability, and to take meaningful action to help communities in need and those on the frontlines” said Alexis Nasard, Bata CEO.
Since the onset of the outbreak, Bata through its ‘Bata Heroes’ initiative, has been working with its long-standing foundations, charitable partners, government officials, and other organizations to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, in various countries. Bata produced and donated face masks, face shields and protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers, as well as donated food, hygienic products, or funds through the Bata Children’s Program and the Bata Shoe Foundation.
